Kurono Tokyo Chronograph II

KURONO is proud to present the new Kurono Chronograph 2, featuring a more refined and sophisticated design language by Japanese master watchmaker Hajime Asaoka.

A 38mm column-wheel chronograph, the Chronograph 2 takes Hajime-sensei’s art-deco sensibilities to the next level – bringing together the copper, silver, and dark brown color palette of the critically acclaimed Reiwa watch into a multi-layered chronograph dial.

The dial features contrasting layers of gloss black and dark brown as its base, accentuated with a copper tachymeter and silver chronograph scale at its center and circumference respectively.

The central design feature of the watch is the unusual placement of the tachymeter scale closer to the center of the dial, intersecting with the elapsed time and seconds subdials at ‘3’ and ‘9’ which are finished in a concentric guilloche pattern.

As the subdials are recessed and finished differently, a lot more effort was required to manufacture and align the copper scale to prevent parallax error and ensure accuracy. This results in a higher-than-normal dial rejection ratio compared to previous Kurono watches (except for Grand:Akane).

Polished steel studs that indicate hours are then followed by alternating gloss black or dark brown rings that culminate in a silver chronograph scale at the edge. A high-polish steel surround features a date window in contrasting silver with black numerals. Uniquely designed high-polish subhands in the shape of the traditional Japanese ‘kyudo’ arrow complete the look.

The new chronograph retains the key elements of the high-polished steel case and hands that KURONO is distinctively renowned for - and more importantly - also features the unique boxsapphire watch glass that leverages its higher refractive and magnification performance for enhancement to light-play. Chronograph 2 was designed with light-play in mind - by blending dark dial elements with metallic copper and silver scales, with the high-polish metallic surrounds and hands.

Different levels of ambient light and light sources bring out the different emotions of the watch. When indoors in the morning light, the brown layers portray deep grey undertones with the tachymeter taking an almost reddish hue. At noon in the sun, the center of the dial exudes a rich brown tone with the orange copper and silver tones simply scintillating. At night, the watch becomes almost stealth-like, with the high-polished chrome surrounds, hands, and hour indices taking center stage.

At '3' and '9' are contrasting elapsed time and seconds sub dials respectively, finished in a concentric guilloche pattern, with the elapsed-time sub dial at '9' set with a uniquely designed high-polished sub hand in the shape of a traditional Japanese 'kyudo' arrow. The principles of kyudo archery are sometimes summarised as ‘truth, goodness and beauty’, where truth relates to shooting with a pure mind, goodness to a person’s character, and beauty to gracefulness and the refined etiquette of kyudo.

For the Chronograph 2, Hajime chose the mechanical chronograph caliber NE86A from one of Japan's most esteemed movement manufacturers - positioned by them as its newest flagship chronograph movement and successor to the 6S. Touted by the manufacturer as a premium caliber, the 311-part movement combines traditional chronograph features like a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a magic lever winding system - with a unique threepointed hammer system that starts, stops and resets all three wheels simultaneously. This system allows for all the counters to advance continuously rather than only at one-minute intervals.

Additionally, instead of driving the minute and hour counters from the chronograph seconds wheel, each is driven by a powered wheel with its own clutch. This delivers increased accuracy and longer-term durability. The watch measures 38mm excluding the crown/ pushers, and has a power reserve of 45 hours.

Technical specifications

Kurono Tokyo Chronograph 2

Limited edition of 500 pieces

Case

• 316L high-polished stainless steel
• Diameter: 38mm
• Thickness: 13.9mm incl. sapphire
• Glass: High-curvature sapphire crystal
• Solid caseback
• Water-resistant to 30 meters (3 ATM)

Dial and hands

• Black dial with dark brown colour palette
• Copper tachymeter and silver chronograph scale
• Lacquer with vertical pinstripes

Movement

• Japan-made mechanical self-winding chronograph movement
• Number of jewels: 34
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Power reserve of 45 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes
• Date
• Chronograph

Strap and buckle

• Black leather band
• Stainless steel pin buckle

MSRP

• JPY 418'000 / USD 3'993 (approx SGD 5,700 including GST)

For more information, please visit kuronotokyo.com